Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

It is essential that social work and human services practitioners possess knowledge of the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities in order to understand the reasons for the profound disadvantage evidenced across a range of social, health and economic indicators, and their gross over-representation in social systems such as child protection. Understanding the impacts of dispossession, colonisation and policy directives on the ability to achieve self-determination and empowerment as basic human rights provides a requisite platform for practice and thereby helps to redress social exclusion and marginalisation. Effective social work and human service practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities requires practitioners to possess an in-depth understanding and knowledge of past practices and policies and their continuing impact in contemporary society. Reflexive and reflective practice is imperative for potential social work and human service practitioners. Hence, it is important that students look inward and critically deconstruct their own values and beliefs about Indigenous Australians and their social and community contexts.

Aims

This unit aims to provide students with foundational knowledge about a range of historical and contemporary factors which impact on the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities. It further aims to encourage students to reflect on their own values and incorporate principles of cultural safety, competency and sensitivity which are integral to sound professional practice.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. understand a range of historical and contemporary factors which impact on the health and well-being, self determination and empowerment experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities (GVS1 - 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.10; GVS2 - 2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 2.8; GVS3 - 3.1; GVS4 - 4.1, 4.5, 4.6);


2. critically examine how social work and human service practice can assist in the empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities (GVS1 - 1.2, 1.6; GVS2 - 2.3, 2.4, 2.8; GVS3 - 3.3);


3. demonstrate an understanding of how to work and liaise effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and agencies (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.10; GVS2 - 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.8);


4. ethically practise culturally-safe protocols of communication and respect while also gaining the ability to challenge societal assumptions and stereotypes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities (GVS2 - 2.2, 2.4; GVS3 - 3.1, 3.2, 3.3); and


5. develop an understanding of the AASW and ACWA professional standards as they relate to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.10, 1.11).

AASW Education and Accreditation Standards: 2.6; 3.0; 3.1; 4.1.2; 4.1.4; 4.1.5; 4.1.6
AASW Practice Standards for Social Workers: 1.8; 3.1; 4.3; 4.4; 4.9; 5.1
ACWA Practice Standards: 2.0; 3.0

Content

This unit will cover a range of topics concerning the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities. This includes but is not limited to:

• social issues experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities


• the history of colonisation


• social exclusion


• marginalisation


• disadvantage


• self-determination


• empowerment


• human rights


• the broad policy context


• reflective and reflexive practice.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit incorporates a blended learning approach. During weeks 1 to 4, students will attend a three (3) hour workshop each week. From weeks 5 to 9, students will be involved in a range of experiential learning environments which may include off-campus field options. From weeks 10 to 13, students will continue with on-campus workshops. During the course of the semester, students will have the opportunity to interact with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agencies and practitioners to further their awareness of social issues experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and communities. Lecture materials will be placed on Blackboard on a regular basis and students will be required to access Blackboard regularly to review the learning resources. Students will also be expected to participate in on-line reflective journals, blogs and discussions via Facebook.

Assessment

Assessment in this unit aims to engage students in knowledge development, critical thinking, analysis and reflection.Students will be provided both summative and formative feedback during the semester. This may occur via face-to-face, email, telephone and /or Skype.

Assessment name: Film Critique
Description: Students will view an assigned film and write a critique. Students may select one of the following films; Ten Canoes, Fringe Dwellers, Beneath Clouds or Bran Nue Day.
Relates to objectives: 1
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Written Assessment
Description: Students will undertake a two part written assessment including:
a) An initial reflection of student ideological perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individual and communities (weight 25%);
b) Continuing on from section (a): Students will complete a written assignment with a focus on the historical antecedents to an area of demonstrable disadvantage and professional practice (weight 45%).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Weight: 70%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 10 and Week 14

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Students will be required to purchase a recommended text. There may also be some additional costs associated with field trips.
Recommended Text:

Maddison, S. (2009) Black Politics. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.

Risk assessment statement

Video footage will be used throughout the semester to clarify key points and to provide depth of knowledge. Some students may find aspects of the footage distressing, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this unit may contain names and images of people who have died. Please discuss any concerns with the unit coordinator.

Facebook Guidelines
In keeping with the professional standards of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW) and the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA), guidelines for the use of Facebook sites related to units being undertaken have been established. It is also expected that students coming from other disciplines will also abide by these guidelines.

• A student Facebook account must be set up for use across subjects in units offered in Social Work and Human Services. No private accounts may be used.


• Profile pictures and any other pictures uploaded to the Facebook site must be of a professional nature.


• All communication must be professional and related to the unit, task or assessment in which the Facebook site is being used.


• Only students and lecturers or persons directly associated with this unit may have access to the Facebook site unless otherwise stated by the unit coordinator.

Helpful hints:
If you already have a personal Facebook site use a different profile name, phone number and email for this one, otherwise you may experience access problems.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 25-Jul-2012